MARSHALL, Texas - A 20-year-old Mexican national has been
sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern
District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.

Benigno Guzman Ortiz pleaded guilty
on May 21, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of
methamphetamine and was sentenced to 58 months in federal prison by U.S.
District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

According to information presented in court, on Sep. 29, 2017, Ortiz was
stopped for a traffic violation in Cass County, Texas. During the stop,
law enforcement officers requested consent to search the van Ortiz was
driving. Ortiz gave consent and the search revealed 15 bundles of
methamphetamine concealed within the rear hatch of the van. Ortiz was
arrested and admitted that he had been recruited to drive the van containing
methamphetamine from Houston to Texarkana, Arkansas. Ortiz was indicted
by a federal grand jury on Oct. 18, 2017, and charged with drug trafficking
violations.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway
Patrol and Criminal Investigations Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S.
Attorney Jim Noble.

Davilyn Walston

Public Information Officer/Law Enforcement Coordinator

U.S. Attorney's Office

Eastern District of Texas

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